Iran hacking Israeli CCTV; officials say Tehran refining strikes with footage — how cameras become war weapon

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Iran is reportedly hacking into private security cameras inside Israel to see where its missiles have landed and improve targeting in real time. Israeli officials say the Iranian military is trying to access internet-connected surveillance systems to map out strike locations — raising serious concerns about how everyday tech is now being used as a weapon in war.
The warning comes after a deadly exchange between the two countries that killed over 200 people in Iran and at least 24 in Israel. While Israel has kept images of the damage under blackout, Iran appears to be filling the gap using hacked footage from private homes and businesses, according to a Bloomberg report.
This isn't the first time security cameras have been misused in conflict. In October 2023, Hamas is believed to have hijacked private cameras before launching its surprise invasion.
Israeli authorities later recovered footage that showed civilian and military movement — recorded over months by compromised CCTV systems.
Similar tactics have been seen elsewhere too. After invading Ukraine, Russia allegedly used traffic and street cameras to plan missile strikes. In response, Ukraine banned public webcam feeds in 2022. That same year, the US banned certain Chinese-made camera systems over national security risks.
Yet despite repeated warnings, tens of thousands of cameras in Israel still run on default passwords or outdated software. Many users don't change factory settings or enable basic protections like two-factor authentication. Some devices even stream live footage online, making them easy for hackers to access.
Experts say cost often matters more than security when people buy surveillance systems. Cheaper cameras usually lack the regular updates or safety features needed to protect them from threats.
But once hacked, they can expose highly sensitive areas — like border routes, army patrols, or entire neighbourhoods.
In sone cases, Israeli farmers installed cameras in their fields to stop theft, unaware that those same cameras were also showing military activity along the Gaza fence. After the Hamas attack, Israel's government urged people to improve the security of their devices and was permitted to remotely turn off any camera showing sensitive areas — including traffic and home systems.

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